Property Ownership: Happiness Does Not Lie in Double Vanity Sinks

I never thought there would come a day where I would have to write about double vanity sinks. I guess that is just the space this blog is taking me to. Excuse my short interlude amongst my usual property ownership writing, but I am seeking respite from a thought that refuses to leave my mind. I turn to writing it all out, and (hopefully) letting it go. It has something to do with double vanity sinks, and everything to do with people’s concepts of what makes this life worth living.

We looked at two properties (this time around) before we decided on the one to buy. The first time we were looking at a live work loft, our agent was walking through the home with us, while the seller’s agent awkwardly stood downstairs. We were exploring the third floor where the bedroom and bathroom resided, a floor plan quite similar to the one we were renting. I walked into the newly renovated bathroom and commented, or rather, exclaimed, how nicely done it was. Our super rad real estate agent, who we love, flippantly added to the appraisal with what I presume she thought all prospective buyers wanted to hear.

She said, “The nice thing about the bathroom is that it has a double vanity.” She looked at us expectantly and then followed up with, “Do you have a double vanity in the bathroom you currently rent?” When we said we didn’t, she said, “That’ll be a nice upgrade then!”

I was quite confused by her comment, but smiled and continued asking questions about the home and moved on with the rest of the tour. It stuck with me as nothing but a funny comment, and it was pushed to the recesses of my mind.

Until our dear friend helped us move in to our new place (the one we actually picked) two Sundays ago. (How time flies! Was it already two Sundays ago??) After all the lifting, sweating, scuffling, and off course, gorging on food to replenish depleted energy stores, we were sitting on the couch catching up on each other’s lives. A thing that used to be an everyday occurrence in college but that you miss once everyone finds their place in the world. He excused himself to use the restroom and returned to the couch with a big smile on his face. “I like how you have double vanities. So nice!”

Mike and I kind of did this super obnoxious look that we give each other sometimes, at the risk of being borderline rude, and we smiled. We then proceeded to explain how we didn’t think it mattered how many sinks were in the bathroom, as long as there was a sink in the house. Our friend assured us that it’s because we have not experienced “double sink life” just yet, and that we would soon change our minds.

So I asked, “What is so special about double sinks?!” Quite in a similar intonation as the text implies.

He kindly informed me that it was nicer to have one’s own. He said that we each have our own stuff that we want around the sink, and it would be nice to have our own place to store them. He alluded to the stereotype that women want to keep a ton of products around their sinks, and men have shaving supplies to worry about. Plus, it would be such a convenience now that we don’t have to share a sink in order to brush our teeth.

After one week of living in this space, I still don’t get it.

First off, let me show you a picture of our sinks.

As you can see, the only thing on it is a pump for hand soap, and Mike’s toothbrush. There is absolutely no other thing on the sink.

Secondly, what’s wrong with sharing? We can take turns brushing our teeth. Or, as is more often case, brush at the same time, but take turns using the sink. We tend to roam around the home while brushing anyway, and old habits die hard. Usually, I’ll accumulate my drool much more quickly than Mr. Debtist does, and I am using the sink before him. If anything, it makes for good laughs, moving each other aside in order to expectorate. It’s even funnier when we don’t quite make it.

Ultimately, I think I know what bothers me most. It circles back to when our real estate agent assumed that double vanity sinks is what buying a home is about. Or the inclination that double vanity sinks lead to a happier life. It relates to the concept that “more is better”. And it still implies that convenience is key to happiness. I kinda miss our single sink. I miss pushing each other out of the way, and trying to steal water from over each other’s hands. I talk a lot about “less is more” but in doing so, I am feeding into this idea that more is better. Less is definitely LESS, but that can be a good thing, too.

Deciding whether a home is the right home for you does not depend on double vanity sinks. Sinks do not even define “an upgrade”. What’s the point of “upgrading” to double vanity sinks if, say, the mortgage is too much for you to comfortably pay. Doesn’t that downgrade you to a more stressful life? Why do people use sinks as a measure of how nice a home is. Shouldn’t we comment on other things? Like, how kind the neighbors are, for example. Or how it cuts your commute to a mere three blocks (yes, that’s my commute to one of my offices now. It’s glorious). I do admit, I may be bent-out-of-shape and hung-up on some small, insignificant thing. But I have got to say that as long as people are measuring worth in terms of double vanity sinks, there’s going to be a lot of happiness-searching without actually any happiness-reaching in this world.